Gifts from the heart

Remember that you have many ways to spend less and add more meaning for a special Mother's Day

May 04, 2012|By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, Tribune newspapers

The gift of time. Make a coupon book full of favors — washing her car, making dinner, giving a scalp massage — that mom can redeem that day or in the future. If there are kids in the picture, have them hide the coupons all over the house and send mom on a treasure hunt, Favreau suggests.

Get outside. Simply getting out of the house and doing something out of the ordinary as a family can leave a lasting memory. Pack a picnic instead of going to a restaurant, go for a hike or see if there are any free concerts in the local park. If mom has a green thumb, buy some veggie starts and prep the soil ahead of time, Tetreault suggests, so that when Mother's Day rolls around the family can hunker down together to plant a vegetable garden.

Daily deals. Half-price mani-pedis, massages, trapeze classes and anything else that might appeal to moms have become so common on daily deal sites that it's hard to justify paying full price for anything. Just be sure to read the fine print on business hours and expiration dates before buying, Favreau warns. One safe option that keeps on giving is a magazine subscription, which can cost as little as $4 a year for monthlies such as Better Homes and Gardens at Dealnews.com.